Florida Gators head coach Will Muschamp and offensive coordinator Brent Pease have made it a priority to sign at least one quarterback in each recruiting class. Forced to accept a fallback option for 2013, the Gators received word Wednesday that the centerpiece of their 2014 class is now in the fold as four-star signal caller Will Grier (Davidson, NC) officially committed to play for Florida.

“I am committed to the university of Florida!! If you ain’t a gator your gator bait!! #Gators #chompchomp #SWAMPLIFE,” he wrote on his personal Twitter account. (He also sent out this picture in a subsequent tweet.)

A dual-threat passer with a powerful arm and 4.8-second speed, Grier is the Gators’ top choice at his position and is seen by the coaching staff as an indispensable piece of its puzzle. He chose Florida over N.C. State, Tennessee and North Carolina, which also made him a top priority.

Grier had an outstanding junior season for Davidson Day High School, completing 78.3 percent of his passes for 5,785 yards and 69 touchdowns with just six interceptions. He also averaged 8.8 yards per carry and racked up 813 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground but did cough up five fumbles.

“He’s a dual-threat and can move, but I think he’s excellent in the pocket and will only need to run when rushed in college,” said Rivals recruiting analyst Mark Farrell of Grier. “He’s comfortable setting up and throwing unlike some other quarterbacks who put up impressive rushing stats in high school.”

In a playoff game against Harrells Christian Academy on Nov. 9, he put together the best game of his career and one of the most dominant high school football performances in history, completing 83.3 percent of his passes for 837 yards and 10 touchdowns and also carrying the ball six times for 45 yards and two more scores.

Though the record-setting yardage mark is unlikely to be recognized statewide or nationally, it did help him win Gatorade High School Football Player of the Year for North Carolina. He also led his high school team to an 11-2 record and a second-straight state championship.

The third member of the Gators’ 2014 class – joining four-star wide receiver Ryeshene Bronson (Fort Myers, FL) and four-star defensive tackle Travonte Valentine (Palm Bay, FL) – Grier will spend the next year recruiting other top offensive playmakers and trying to convince them to join him at Florida.

By the time he suits up for the Gators, Jeff Driskel and Jacoby Brissett will be entering their senior seasons, should either or both remain with the team that long.

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Welp, now they have to keep him committed for 13 months. Also Rivals has him running a 4.8 – which one is he? Obviously we’re looking for pocket passers but the current offense relies so much on zone read

@Alex, what gives you the impression that the staff was really looking for pocket passing qb’s? I know this staff made Grier there top target for the 2014 cycle and have been full court press on him since the day coaches were allowed to contact recruits in that class.

Grier’s a passer. Hey may have run successfully in high school, but a 4.8 in the 40 is slower than almost everyone on the field in college, O-line being the lone exception, generally. This guy is branded a “dual threat,” but so was Brissett in high school, and Brissett runs about 3 tenths faster in the 40 (4.5). You see him running much?

Look at our offense. We want to hand the ball off and have a QB back there who can make throws when he needs to. If he has legs, that’s a great help when things break down, but it’s not a priority. In college, most “dual-threat” QBs are runners first who can throw a pass if they have to. Think about Braxton Miller, Munchie Legeaux, etc. They’re serviceable passers when they have to throw, but it’s not their forte. This offense doesn’t ask the QB to run much, but he needs to make third-down throws when the running backs aren’t getting it done. Driskel is our QB over Brissett because they’re essentially interchangeable in passing skills but Driskel adds the ability to run. It’s a bonus. It’s not something they’re pursuing actively.

Watch the tape. Very impressive prospect.
-outstanding footwork, quicker feet than many pros
-quick release
-very strong arm, watch him flick it 30 yards @ the 8minute 50 second mark
-good speed but even better acceleration
These are the most impressive high school QB highlights I have ever seen.

Jacoby was listed as a pro style QB on every recruiting site and show in America. Driskel was the #1 dual threat QB in all those sites as well. Grier may run a 4.8 forty but its his passing ability that opens up the running lanes.

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